The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-07-27
A Troubled SOnl.

DEAR DIR. FITZGERALD Il am IL
trouble, and feel that must unbtlrdel
NV heart to some one. turn to you
persuaded that you sympathizc will
those in distress, and especially with
all who are pressed under such bur
dens as lie upon Inc. And yet | &c
not know that you can give me relief
while to pour into your ear my ans,
tresses may add to your own, which, !
am sure, I would not wantonly III:
crease. But occasionally | have found
comfort i'm the free communications OF
a tried friendship. In unburdening
nv heart to a faithful friend | have
been truly disburdened. so far at least
that the load which had been greatly
oppressive became then tolerable.
This is long preface and you may
be ready to say, while many importu'
nate claims clamor for attention
"Please come to the point" Forgive
ME, and yet bear with me. | must
tell my story in my own way. This Is
what would say: am greatly trou'
bled on account Of the Church. II
NAV seem singular to confess it, and il
may tell of something wrong III me,
but I am much more concerned dbo1H
the Church than for the au1sared aOho
do not PROFESS to lore the lord Jesus.
But all this is so general in form
that YOU will scarcely know what !
mean. If I can do so will give some
of the particulars which occasion my
distress.
The church (congregation) of which
am a member is large one. 1t is
duly organized and, while rot what il
called wealthy, has sufficient means to
meet all home demands and help no
little in general enterprises. But !
find that many-I was about to say Il
maiority-seem to have no true inter
est i'm the cause of Christ. If there Is
an entertainment or society-mectine
the same evening the prayer-meeting
is held, the preference is given to the
former; and when they chance to at
tend the prayer-meeting there Is an air
Of indifference which chills others and
discourages our pastor. If they have
In view a visit for recreation or pleas.
ure, those of them who have not abun-
dant means begin early to provide for
it; and thus putting by something
week by week. when the time comes
they have the money to meet the ex'
penscs. Buff called upon to contrib.
nte to the cause of God they say, 81
have nothing now; perhaps when the
time comes I'll give something If ]
have any thing" I have had to assist
many times in the work of making
collections-andw work itis-and could
have borne disappointment and failure
if it had been said, Il am sorry can
not aid, but really am unable;n but
when I haye been told, curtly. NO,
I'll not give any thing" when | have
been treated rudely, as if were beg
gar soliciting aims for my own relief,
o then, Doctor, it is hard to bear.
Many of our people provide for their
own wants and pleasures, but provide
nothing for the cause of our Hedeem-
or. Indeed, I cannot see that they are
rich toward God. This also is true :
Many members Of our Church pay fol-
the PASTORS support, if they like the
man but if they do not like him Their
payments are withheld. They receive
the preacher cordially if they like the
man; but they never seem 10 receive
him rs Gods ambassador; it is the
person they consider, and nott1le mes
senger.
The preacher who served us not long
since was q gentle, courteous, spirtu-
al, faithful man. He was also Il man
with a clear view of his duty, with
strong convictions that he must per
form it without partiality, and with
the courage to fulfil all that he thought
he ought to do. So he went straight
forward, and soon found some ancient
evils which had been so long connivcd
at that by many they were quietly ac-
cepted rs prcscriptive rights. Gently.
but. firmly, he undertook the removal
of these evils. He never uttered a
harsh word, treated all with due re-
spect, appealed to the Discipline
which imposed the obligation upon
him to do what lie vas doing and t.
vindlcatc the course he took. All was
of no avail. They opposed him al
every stage of his work; spoke evil o'
him into every ear that would listen
deprecated his ministry; withdrew
their contributions for his support
expressed the hope that there would
be a heavy deficiency; as far as posi-
BILE organized party in the church
and with a persistence rarely eIuallet
sought by all means to bring him into
discredit and have him removed from
the pastorate of the church. In this
particular case the faction was mi
nority; and God honored his faithful
servant with congregations greatly in
creased in numbers, with a revival in
which more than q hundred were